Ink-well.



PATENTBD MAY 29, 1906.

B. BROWER.

INK WBLL.

APPLIOATION Huu SEPT.15

UNITED STATES BLOOMFIELD BROWER, OF'NEW YORK, N; Y.

lNK-WELL.

No. &21,852.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed September 15, 1904:. Serial No. %4,484.

To aLZZ whmn it may conccrn:

Be itknown that I, BLOOMFIELD BROWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ink-Welle, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ink-wells, and particularly those ink-wells which are provided 'with a fioat adapted to be depressed by a pen and When so depressed to displace the ink in which it fioats and cause it to rise into contact with and ink the It is the object of the present invention to provide an ink-well of -this class in which the amount of ink eXposed to the atmosphere and consequent evaporation, collection of dust, &0. is reduced to the minimum, in which the liability of the ink squirtng upwardly upon the depression of the float is entirely avoided, and in which the ink is caused to so circulate through the well and around i or through the fioat that upon each depression of the fioat there Will be presented to the pen not the same or part of the same ink left standing after the last preceding depression of the float, but fresh ink from the body of the well.

As a full understanding of the invention can best be had from a detailed description of an organization embodying the same, such description will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of an inlr-well embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section 'of the same, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, A represents the ink-Well proper, provided wi th a suitable ink-chamber a and with a sup plenental chamber a' for the reception of a cup or what may be termed a fioat-chamber B. This float-chamber is in a lower plane than chamber a and is provided substantially in line with the bottom of said chamber a with side openings b, through which it communicates with and is supplied with ink from said chainber a. This float-chamber is preferably of hard vulcanized rubber; but it may be made of other suitable material, if desired. Within the float-chamb er B is located a fioat 0, also preferably of hard vulcanized rubber and of the hollow cylindrical form shown. The eXterior diameter of this float is somewhat less than the interior diameter of the float-cham'ber B, so as to provide a space betweenthe fioat and said chamber through which the ink in the chamber may rise and then pass over the top of the float when the latter is depressed by a pen and displaces the ink beneatl it' in said fioatchamber. For the purpose of centering the float C in the floatcharnber B vertical ribs c are interposed between the two, these ribs being preferably formed upon the fioat. The inlr which is thus caused to rise between the float and fioat-chamber and to pass over the top of the fioat inks the pen which has depressed the float, and in order to insure a sufficientvsupply of ink about the pen at the top of the fioat to properly ink the pen the fioat C is provided at its top with a depressed portion or dipping-cup d, into which the ink passes as it passes over the top of the float. The well is also provided with a cap D, preferably of hard vulcanized rubber, which is removable for the purpose of supplying the well with ink or to permit the removal of the float and fioat-chamber for cleaning or other purposes. This cap D is provided with a depending flange d, which makes a close fit in the opening provided in the well for its reception, so as to render the ink-well substantially air-tight and dust-proof at that point. The top edge of the fioat or its dipping-cup c also, as will be observed, in the raised position of the float contacts with the under surface of the cap D, so that at this point the well is also substantially air-tight and dustproof. The upper end of the float-chamber does not contact directly with the inner surface of the flange d, but with projections d' on the flange, so that space is provided between the float-chamber and said flange for the passage into charnber aof part of the ink forced upwardly by the fioat and which does not enter the dripping-cup c. p

The fioat C is also provided with an inkpassage 0 through which the dipping-cup c' communicates with the body of the floatchanber, the function of this passage being to provide for the return to the fioat-chamber of the ink which, on the depression of the float, passes over the sides of the fioat and into the dipping-cup c'. This ink-passage is controlled by a valve E, consisting, preferably, of a disk or cork floating freely in the float-chamber beneath the fioat C and nor- IIO mally in contact with the lower end thereof, so as to close the ink-passage c The result of this Construction is that while the fioat is in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 2, the float-valve E will rest against its lower end, thus closing the opening or passage 8 While the fioat is being depressed by a pen, the float-valve E will still occupy this position with relation to the fioat, and thus prevent the entrance of ink from the float-chamber into said nik-passage 6 When, however, the pen is withdrawn from contact with the upper end of the fioat and the latterthen rises, the fioat C and fioat-valve E will become sufficiently separated by reason of the fioat rising in advance of the valve to open communication between passage and the float-chamber B, se, that the ink in the former may pass therefrom into the fioat-chamber until the level of the ink in said passage 0 the fioat-chamber B, and the chamber a is equalized. Then the fioat-valve E resumes the closing position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The bottom of the fioat-chamber B insteadof presenting a flat surface for contact with the under side of valve E as the latter is forced downwardly by the fioat (which.

might result in the valve being held against the bottom of the float-chamber) is provided with an upward projection e, presenting a surface of small 'area for engaging the valve E, this arrangement facilitating the upward movement of valve E upon the upward movement of the fioat. A similar arrangement eXists between the Contacting surfaces of the float and valve for facilitating upward movement of the fioat away from the valve.

The fioat-valve E, although preferably provided and forming a feature of the invention, may be omitted without materiall-y changing the function and operation of the other parts' of the ink-well, as without such float-valve even though some ink may rise through the central passage 0 when the 'float is depressed, yet the greater portion of the ink which rises to the top of the fioat when the latter is depressed will pass upward through the channel or space between the fioat and the fioatchamber B and pass over the top of the fioat and into the dipping-cup c'. From this con- Struction of ink-well, including fioat-valve E, there results the following important advantages. All possibility oi? the ink squirting upwardly out of the mouth of the well or onto the holder of, the pen or the fingers 'of the writer is entirely avoided, as the pen is supplied with ink which passes upwardly around the float and not through a central opening therein, upward movement of ink from fioatchamber B through opening or passage 0 on the depression of the fioat being prevented by the valve E. Fresh ink and not the ink left standing since the last preceding depression of the fioat is presented to the pen, the ink so presented being not that in the inkover its top into the dipping-cup c' when the fioat is depressed, the ink left standing in the passage 6 after each depression of the fioat being finally returned to the float-chamber. The ink-well is substantially air-tight and dust-proof, the' only point at which the ink therein is eXposed to the atmosphere being the ink-passage 0 which, as will be observed, is of small diameter and ,the ink from which is, as just stated, returned to the fioat-chamber and mixed with the ink therein, so that any evil eiiect which may have been produced thereon by the atmosphere is corrected or dissipated by such miXture. Without the fioat-valve E the same advantages would result, though to a lesser degree.

The ink-well shown has other important advantages independent of the float-valve E. It is'simple in Construction, The float-chamber, float, and cap may be readily and quickly removed when it is desired to supply the well with ink or for any other purpose and as rcadily and quickly replaced in position thereon, and, finally, because of the provision of side openings above the bottom of the fioat-chamber in line substantially with the bottom of the ink-chamber a insures the use of the ink-well with a comparatively small quantity of ink and also when the ink in chamber falls below the side openings results in the fioat falling, thus warning ornotifying the user to refill the well: with ink.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with an ink-chamber and a fioat-chamber supplied with ink therefrom, of an ink-displacing fioat in the floatchamber, the sides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of the float-chamber so that ini( in the latter is caused to rise between the fioat and the walls of the float-chamber and pass over the top of the float when the latter is depressed by a pen, said fioat having an ink-passage for returning to the float-chamber the ink thus passing over the top of the fioat, and a valve controlling said ink-passage so as to permit such return of the ink but prevent entrance of the ink into :the lower end of said passage as the float is depressed, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an ink-chamber and a fioat-chamber supplied with ink therefrom, of an ink-displacing fioat in the fioatchamber, the sides of thefioat being spaced' from the walls of the fioat-chamber so that ink in the latter is' caused to rise between the float and the walls of the float-chamber and pass over the top. of'the fioat when the latter is depressed by a pen, said fioat having an ink-passage for returning to the float-chamber the ink thus passing over the top of the float, and a float-valve controlling saidinkpassage'so as to permit suchreturn of the ink but prevent entrance of: the ink into the IOO IIO

IIS

` ink-passage &21,352

lower end of said passage as the float is depressed, substantially as described.

,3. The combination with an ink-chamber and a float-charnber supplied with ink thereirorn, of an ink-displacing float in the fioatchamber, the sides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of the fioat-charnber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the float and the walls of the float-charnber and pass over the top of the fioat when the latter is depressed by a pen, said fioat having an for returning to the fioat-chamber the ink thus passing over the top .of the fioat, and a disk-like float-valve controlling said ink-passage so as to permit such return of the ink but prevent entrance of the ink into the lower end of said passage as the fioat is depressed, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an ink-chamber and. a fioat-chamber supplied with ink therefrom, of an ink-displacing float in the fioatchamber, the sides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of the float-chamber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the fioat and the walls of the fioat-chamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the latter is depressed by a pen, a dipping-cup in the top of the fioat, said fioat having an 1nkpassage for returning to the float-chamber the ink thus passing over the top of the fioat, and a valve controlling said ink-passage so as to permit such return of the ink but prevent entrance of the ink into the lower end oli' said passage as the float is depressed, substantially as described.

5. The conibination with an ink-chainber and a fioat-chamber having side openings through which it communicates with said ink-chamber, of an ink-displacing float in the float-chamber, the sides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of the fioat-chamber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the fioat and the walls of the fioatchamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the latter is depressed by a pen, said float having an ink-passage for returning to the body of the float-chamber the ink thus passing over the top of the float, and a valve controlling said ink-passage so as to perrnit such return of the ink but prevent entrance of the ink into the lower end of said passage from the body of the float-chamber as the float is depressed, substantially as described,

6. The combination with an ink-chamber and a fioat-chamber having side openings through which it communicates with said ink-chamber, of an ink-displacing fioat in the fioat-charnber, the sides of the flo'at being spaced from the walls of the fioat-charnber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the fioat and the walls of the fioatchamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the latter is depressed by a pen, said float having an ink-passage for returning to the body oi the fioat-chamber the inl thus passing over the top of the fioat, a valve controlling said ink-passage so as to permit such return of the ink but prevent entrance of the ink into the lower end of said passage from the body of the float-chamber as the float is depressed, and a cap having a substantially air-tight fit in the upper end of the well and with the under side of which the upper end of the float makes contact, substantially as described. i

- 7. The combination with an ink-chamber and a fioat-charnber supplied with ink therefrom, of an ink-displacing. fioat in the fioatchamber, the sides of the float being spaced froni the walls of the fioat-charnber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the float and the walls of the float-chamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the fioat is depressed by a pen, said float having an ink-passage, and said `fioat-charnber having side openings through which ink is supplied to it from the ink-charnber, substantially as described.

8. The cornbination with an ink-charnber and a fioat-chamber located in a lower plane and supplied with ink therefrom, of an ink-displacing fioat in the fioat-charnber, the sides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of the float-chamber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the fioat and 'the walls of the fioat-chamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the fioat is depressed by a pen, said fioat having an ink-passage, and said float-chamber through which ink is supplied to it from the ink-charnber, substantially as described.

9. The coinbination with an ink-charnber and a float-chamber located in a lower plane and supplied with ink therefrom, of an inkdisplacing fioat in the fioat-chamber, thesides of the fioat being spaced from the walls of thefloat-charnber so that ink in the latter is caused to rise between the float and the walls of the float-chamber and pass over the top of the fioat when the float is depressed by a pen, said fioat having an ink-passage, and said float-charnber having side openings substantially in line with the bottom of the inkcharnber through which ink is supplied to it from the ink-charnber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have 'hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BLOOMFIELD BROWER.

Witnesses J. A. GRAVESL G. M. BORST.

having side openings IOO IIO 

